“These are students who view health care in a way that is bigger than the traditional practice model,” Stan Kozakowski, MD, director of medical education at the American Academy of Family Physicians, told American Medical News. “They see the dual degree as providing them with a competitive advantage as they go into the workplace.”

While the additional skills can prove beneficial, students should carefully consider the additional time and cost for these programs, experts say. Depending on the specific program, students can spend an additional nine years earning dual degrees, American Medical News reports.

What do you think? Are dual degrees beneficial to physicians and to the patients for whom they care? What degrees do you think are most helpful for them in today’s health care system? Register below to leave a comment.